Which coolant should I use 97 Mustang

[Lyman]

Ok I have a 97 Mustang 4.6 I bought about 6 months back. The coolant looks good but i don't know how long it's been in there. It is orange in color. From a chart i saw it should have green coolant. Im guessing someone put the long life stuff in it. I lack knowledge in this department so any help would be great. Im going to swap in a new thermostat at the same time i flush and refill the system. Should i flush it out real good and use the green coolant or what?

 

[chubbs1]

Flush and use the good ol green.

 

[Lyman]

Thanks for the response. I just read a long article on this subject and it said that there is such a thing as G-05 or HOAT coolant that is orange. Have you guys heard of this? I think I will still flush and fill with green just to be sure as a mistake could be disaster.

 

[Lead Shoes]

If it is orange its G-05 which I wouldn't flush out, I would test it with an antifreeze tester see how old the fluid is.

 

[Brons2]

yea don't dump the G05, it's good stuff.

 

[Donald]

G-05 is great stuff. It could be almost clear (Zerex) or maybe orange, etc depending upon if its Ford or Chrysler. I would not go back to the old green. You can get is for around $12 at NAPA (Zerex).

 

[chad8]

Originally Posted By: Brenden
If it is orange its G-05 which I wouldn't flush out, I would test it with an antifreeze tester see how old the fluid is.


+1 . The hoat coolant probably means that the previous owner had cooling system issues and replaced all the parts necessary and used the best coolant he/she could find.
Look at the thermostat housing, radiator, and water pump to determine if the bolts still have original paint on them or the corners rounded off or scratched a bit to see what has been worked on.
Its a good reference point.
We do this a lot when determining if a motor has been opened up before buying.

It adds up to leave it alone if the proper temp protection is in there. Hoat coolant is good for 100000 miles.

 

[mechanicx]

I highly doubt the previous owner put in G-05 from a Chrysler dealer. The odds are very likely that the orange coolant is Dexcool. Ford recommends Green and that's what it was originally filled with. When you flush out the system, and I'd recommend you do that, I would put in Green. You could go with G-05 when you refill although Ford only recommends Green.

 

[Lyman]

Well guys just how am I going to know if it is in fact G-05 or Dexcool? I do know the previous owner had the intake manifold replaced as it has the aluminum crossover on it. The car has been very well maintained from what I can tell though no receipts came with it. The woman I bought it from was a nurse and told me about how she kept synthetic oil in it and always had it changed on time ect. ect. New brakes, tires, convertible top, It needed nothing from what I can tell. Im just anal about knowing what fluids are in my cars. It will be flushed and Im am thinking about having a shop do it with a machine to get it done right. Otherwise it will take all day to get the old stuff out.

 

[bdcardinal]

I bet they used DexCool. Odds are there wont be any issues, but if it makes you not sleep well at night completely drain the system, not hard on that, flush out with clean water and refill with green.

 

[Lyman]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
I bet they used DexCool. Odds are there wont be any issues, but if it makes you not sleep well at night completely drain the system, not hard on that, flush out with clean water and refill with green.

That's what I am thinking and I will flush it.

 

[Lyman]

Ok now I feel like a real fool. I just came back in from looking at my coolant. Just to take the cap off the tank and look at it you see an orange color. I went and got a flash light and shined in there and it is bright green. [censored]? This is kinda strange. Now I am wondering if I am just seeing things. Maybe it's a mixture or something. Oh well it's getting flushed anyway.

 

[bdcardinal]

It has probably been mixed. If you are doing it yourself there are 2 block drains, one on each side of the block that are either an allen head or a 3/8 square.

 

[wiswind]

It can be difficult to tell the color....been there, done that.
I would just go ahead a flush it out and install Traditional Green or G-05.
FORD says to use only Green in pre-1999 vehicles.
My opinion (and it is only opinion) is that G-05 would also be fine.
I changed my '96 3.8L Windstar over to G-05 from Traditional Green.
G-05 goes to a non-long life coolant life if mixed with Traditional Green, but the 2 don't have any ill effect reaction together.
FORD has not certified that there is not any issue with internal components with G-05 in the older vehicles.
Make SURE to use distilled water with the coolant (if you use the concentrate).
I would not be expecting 5 years out of either coolant, and would change it out at 2 or 3 years anyhow (again, just my lay person's opinion).